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george says:"classic Stephen King."

Publisher's Summary

You'll lose a lot of sleep.... Ralph does. At first he starts waking up earlier. And earlier. Then the hallucinations start - the colours, shapes and strange auras. Not to mention the bald doctors who always turn up at the scene of a death.

That's when Ralph begins to lose a lot more than sleep. When he begins to understand why his hitherto mild-mannered friend, Ed, is getting out of control - dangerously so. And why his hometown is about to become the new Armageddon....

If you suffer from migraines, don't read this book. the "music" will induce them.Whoever decided to put that awful noise into this audio book should be fired. It was louder than the narrator and really hurts the head. it totally ruined the whole story for me.

I love revisiting Derry, Maine with Stephen King. My all time favourite King novel, "IT" took place there after all. Eli Wallach gives a masterful performance of what is definitely another brilliant story from the mind of Stephen King. Now I don't mind a bit of background dramatic music from time to time in an audio book but in this case the music was not only unecessary but also completely drowned out the narrator's voice in places because of its sound level compared to the sound level of the voice. Anyone who has ever actually read a Stephen King novel ought to know that he needs no background music to scare the pants off his readers. Add to that the fact that the music itself sometimes sounded like the noise a sick cat would make while being strangled and the end result was extremely annoying. However I managed to curb my annoyance and get through to the end but hey, all you audiobook producers out there listen up! You don't need dramatic background music to sell me a Stephen King audiobook. Lose it guys.

There is terrible music all through the performance. I assume it is between chapters. It is distracting, detracts from the performance and ruins it. It is also far too loud for the voice of Eli Wallach to be heard clearly. There should be a warning that there is music introduced to the book.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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John Burke

21/07/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Stephen King Insomnia"

Read wonderfully by Eli Wallach, for me he gives the character of Ralph Roberts his heart and soul. I was keen to check in each day to find out the mysteries that Ralph discovers regrading the little bald doctors and there midnight forays around the comunity. Also what is Ed Depneau's obsession with the eponimous Crimson King and his total rage over Susan Day's visit regarding pro choice for women. At the heart of the story is Ralph friendships and his coming to terms with his insomnia and new abilities which lead him ever closer each night to the envitable confrontation with the scissor wielding creatures and there true intentions.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Sarah Novello

26/07/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Music Spoils the Book"

What did you like best about Insomnia? What did you like least?

Music during the chapters drowned the narration and was pointless. A shame.

If you’ve listened to books by Stephen King before, how does this one compare?

Had to give up because of the music intervention.

What didn’t you like about Eli Wallach’s performance?

Eli was fab, music drowned him out.

Did Insomnia inspire you to do anything?

Write a petition not to use music on audiobooks.

Any additional comments?

I hope this is not a new trend, as i will not be buying. Returned.

7 of 9 people found this review helpful

Jonny D

Kent, UK

12/10/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Who, in their right mind, put music into this..."

What about Eli Wallach’s performance did you like?

Eli Wallach's performance was brilliant but the ridiculous musical dramatisation was awful...fortunately, it was only now and again.

Any additional comments?

This is a great audio book and a great Stephen King story but the some idiot decided to put interludes of music into the performance, I imagine in an effort to add drama - they have the totally opposite effect. Whoever did it, 'You Sir/Madam, are an imbecile'. The book is brilliantly read by Eli Wallach but the performance is almost ruined because of this terrible music. What on earth possessed them? Fortunately, it is only now and again but even so, it's difficult not to give up on it because of it.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Puddytat purr

Isle of Wight, UK

11/10/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Annoying music!"

Thoroughly enjoyed the story, but the music at start and end of each chapter was jarring and too loud; it drowned out the reader!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Miss P.

4/10/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Great story, great reading - dreadful music"

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

It's a lengthy and enjoyable reading which in my opinion makes this purchase money well spent

What was one of the most memorable moments of Insomnia?

Sadly the memorable moments are the most frustrating (see comments below).

Which scene did you most enjoy?

When a certain character got his comeuppance.

Could you see Insomnia being made into a movie or a TV series? Who would the stars be?

Definitely, as with a gazillion other Stephen King books. All the actors that spring to mind for Ralph are too old (or dead) - Jimmy Stewart would have been super.

Any additional comments?

Insomnia is a favourite of mine and I've read it a couple of times. Finding it here and read by Eli Wallach - a 'proper' Hollywood actor of a classic era - made its purchase a no brainer. And it's just as enjoyable to listen to as to read ... except for the incredibly intrusive incidental music that cruelly punctuates the reading at far too frequent and inopportune moments. It's discordant and unnecessarily loud and it's driving me up the wall. And yes, I realise that's the point - the lead character is functioning on increasingly fewer and fewer hours' sleep, the music is no doubt meant to mirror his frazzled nerves - but whoever thought this ear drum-jangling cacophony was a good idea and would compliment the actor's reading - it damn well doesn't!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

bobby

29/09/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"king"

good book well read let down only by the music. so annoying when your trying to listen to the story to have that irritating little off tune fading in over the narration at the end of each chapter

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

paffleck

Hertfordshire

28/09/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"A great story"

A good story read brilliantly by Eli Wallach who was unfortunately drowned out occasionally by completely unnecessary, ghastly, discordant music. Please, please don't put that horrible row into any more books.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

nicola

26/09/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Would have given 5 ⭐️ but...."

Loved this story and the performance was amazing BUT at times I had to turn it up so loud because the narrators voice seems to meld into the same sound and words were quite indistinguishable.. don't get me wrong.. a great narrative but just trying to hear individual words if you had any kind of noise in the background was difficult.. loved it but could do with a different narrator..

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

John Drennan

London, UK

8/12/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Ruined by screeching, discordant incidental music!"

What did you like most about Insomnia?

One of the few books that you really don't want to end, and want to stay with the characters for longer.

What three words best describe Eli Wallach’s performance?

An amazing narrator, able to play a huge array of characters without even making you realise it was happening.

Any additional comments?

Why on earth do you need incidental music in a book. The screeching and discordant braying of electric guitars at various parts of the story was a complete and utter distraction - to the point where you couldn't even hear the narrator sometimes - what on earth is the point?

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Matt L.

7/12/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Good story but music offputtingl"

An average story but let down by stupid sound effects and discordant music which distracts and overpowers the performance.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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